in mallng Cbejhhe Cheefe. 235 



the cone, and alfo throuch holes in the fides of the vat. Se- 

 veral Life a wooden lever to prcfs down the cheefe. 



The employment of the women is now drawing out and 

 putting in the Ikcwcrs ; thrnfting and keeping together the 

 portions of the curd, that the power of the weight or lever 

 cjifplaces. This operation is contmued until the whey, 

 which at firft ran from it freely, begins to be difcharged by 

 drops ; the weight and fkewers are then removed, and one 

 woman takes up the corners of the cloth, while the others 

 break the curd half way to the bottom of the vat, as imall as 

 they can. 



Some people ufe a wooden or tin hoop, nine inches broad, 

 initead of holding up ihe corners of the cloth during this 

 breaking. After the upper h^'lf of the cheefe is thus broken, 

 a weight or other power is again applied to it, and is llcew- 

 ereci and thruftcd as before : at firft the whey again runs 

 freely, and the operation is continued as long as tbofe means 

 will prcfs out a drop of whey. Two of the women then take 

 the four corners of the cloth, the fkewers, &c. being rc- 

 inoved ; and the other woman lays hold of the vat which is 

 drawn from the cheefe; and after rinfing it in warm whey, 

 and putting another clean cloth over the upper part of the 

 cheefe, it is returned inverted into the vat again, and, being 

 placed on the kdder over the tub, is broken half way through, 

 4s before ; thrufiing, weighting, and fkewering, &c. is re- 

 peated, and continued from two to four hours, or as long as 

 4 drop of v.-tiey can be exiracled from the cheefe. 



Putting the Cheefe into the Vrefs. 



When no more whey can be extraftcd by the aforefaid 

 means, the cheefq is again turned into the vat and rinfed, as 

 before, with warm whey. The cloth now made ufe of is 

 larger and finer than the former, and is fo laid that on one 

 fide it fliall be level with the fide of the vat, and on the other 

 wrap over the wh.ole furface of the cheefe, and the edges put 

 within the vat ; thus perfectly inclofing the whole cheefe in 

 the cloth. In this ftage of the bufincfs, the cheefe is ftill 

 higher than the edge of the vat; and to prcferve it in due 

 form rccourfc is had to a tin binder or hoop, about three 

 inches broad, which is put round the cheefe on the outfide 

 of the cloth, and the lower edge of the bindi^r prefTcd dowrj 

 within the vat, fo low as that the upper edge of it may be 

 level with the furface of tlie cheefe. The cheefe is then car- 

 ried to iheprefs; and a fmooth ftrong board being placed 

 over it, the prefs is gently let down upon it ; the ufual power 

 ct vi'hich prcfs is aboyt \^ or 1500 lb. weight. 

 '4 As 



